A tip on the topic of wellbeing and health: Through its own initiatives and collaborations in the areas of health, education and society, the Kunsthaus Zürich creates access to art that promotes encounter, participation and wellbeing.
The Kunsthaus's outreach program offers opportunities for people in diverse life situations: for young people in crisis, people with visual impairments, dementia, or neurological conditions, and for young patients in the children's hospital. The Kunsthaus is currently running a variety of projects in this area. Each format is specially developed and tailored to the needs of its participants.
art.in – sparking curiosity
A project at the intersection of art, cultural mediation, and the mental health of young people.
art.in supports young people experiencing mental health crises through the transformative power of art, dance, and music. Building on the successful Artopie model in Geneva, the workshops offer a safe space where young people can actively participate, build self-confidence, and explore new perspectives. A collaboration between the Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (PUK), Life, Children Action, the Zurich Opera House, and the Kunsthaus Zurich, supported by the Max Kohler Foundation.
Hear images, experience art
Guided tours for people with visual impairments.
In specially designed guided tours, paintings and sculptures are brought to life through vivid descriptions. Words replace colors, language shapes contours. An inner image emerges through dialogue. Art historical context and personal perceptions merge into a vibrant art experience. Additionally, materials and the careful tactile exploration of selected sculptures allow for direct experience of form, surface, and material. Developed in collaboration with the Zurich Association for the Visually Impaired. Supported by the Vontobel Foundation.
Enlightened art histories
For people with dementia, their relatives and caregivers.
Under expert guidance, participants collaboratively develop thoughts, associations, and poems inspired by selected artworks. Their reflections are noted and condensed into a shared narrative. The focus is not on forgetting, but on the shared experience: observing, narrating, associating, and exchanging ideas. Developed in collaboration with the Center for Gerontology and the University of Zurich's research focus area "Dynamics of Healthy Aging." Supported by the Vontobel Foundation.
Connect – Dancing with neurological challenges
Dance, music and art for people with MS or Parkinson's disease.
At the Kunsthaus, paintings and sculptures inspire new movements. Professional dance artists with specific expertise create a space where movement, body, and community converge. Selected sessions will be accompanied live by the Tonhalle Orchestra. An initiative of the Zurich Opera House, the Tonhalle Society Zurich, The Field, Dance & Creative Wellness Foundation, Clare Guss-West, and the Kunsthaus Zurich.
Workshops at the children's hospital
Artists in everyday hospital life – annual workshop format.
Together with the Children's Hospital Zurich, the Kunsthaus Zurich is developing an annual workshop program for children and young people in the hospital. The program was launched in 2025 by artist Monster Chetwynd at the Affoltern Rehabilitation Clinic. Working with performers and the clinic and school team, she created an energetic workshop that offered young patients a unique encounter with art – and a brief respite from their daily therapy routine. A collaboration between the Kunsthaus Zurich and the Children's Hospital Zurich.
Further information here